“It is a great joy to continue racing with Ferrari,” Bruni said. “It’s a second family to me as well as being the world’s most prestigious manufacturer.

“We have some major challenges coming up. In late August, we go back to the track in the WEC to try to repeat our successes of 2014.

“Plus we’ll also be developing the GT project for the new 488 GTB for next season which is big news because of the turbo engine.”

"We've said publically before that the NSX could be raced, and that's still very much the case," he added. "Where and when has not been finalized. The great thing about the NSX is it's built in the U.S., has a heavy design involvement from the U.S., and would be the perfect car to race in the U.S."

The hybrid-assisted, twin-turbo V6-powered coupe has been floated as a GTLM/GTE solution, but its ERS system raised red flags with the ACO and FIA. With or without the hybrid unit, it appears the NSX will be on track in the near future as the successor to HPD's prototype program.

***Mazda Motorsports director John Doonan is hopeful of seeing its gasoline-powered prototype make its race debut later this summer. “I’m going straight to Japan [after CTMP] to hopefully get all of the final sign-offs that I need so we can race it here in the next couple of events,” Doonan told Sportscar365. “We’d love to bring it out because it would give us the opportunity to be at the sharp end of the grid instantly.”

***The AER-powered No. 70 Mazda is coming off an extremely successful test at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Tuesday, which saw Jonathan Bomarito and Tristan Nunez turn laps in the range of the Wayne Taylor and VisitFlorida.com Corvette DPs. Mazda is again focusing on its single diesel-powered car this weekend.

***The FIA World Motor Sport Council approved the 2017 draft technical regulations for the LMP2 class Friday, which will see the four selected chassis constructors (Oreca, Onroak Automotive, Riley Tech/Multimatic, Dallara) and a single, to-be-determined engine supplier for the FIA WEC and Asian Le Mans Series.

***As previously announced, the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will be open to multiple engine manufacturers and manufacturer-specific bodywork, although the bodywork will not be eligible to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans or in the ELMS, where the IMSA chassis-engine combinations will also be allowed.

***There appears to be a high level of interest in GT3 machinery for next year, with IMSA potentially facing an oversubscribed grid in the GT Daytona class. It’s believed the category could be capped by a limit of cars per manufacturer, in order to ensure a diverse grid.

***Paul Miller Racing’s Audi R8 LMS was reportedly three seconds quicker in GT3 trim during its test at Watkins Glen last month. IMSA is planning further testing with GT3-spec machinery later this year.

***Corvette heads into CTMP on a hot streak, with the GTLM factory squad seeking its 12th class victory at the Canadian circuit since 2001, the most of any venue in team history. The Corvette DP, meanwhile, is riding a five-race win streak dating back to Sebring.

***A number of sports car racing industry experts took part in this week’s FIA Sport Conference in Mexico City, including IMSA President Scott Atherton, Mazda Motorsports Director John Doonan and Scot Elkins of the Motorsport Safety Foundation.

***IMSA and Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc. today announced a multi-year partnership making Konica Minolta the Official Business Solutions Partner of the TUDOR Championship and a Proud Partner of IMSA.